About us

pogon = production plant; drive

 

Institutional definition

POGON – Zagreb Center for Independent Culture and Youth is hybrid cultural institution based on a new model of public-civil partnership.
Pogon’s founders are the Alliance Operation City and the City of Zagreb.

Pogon is not an independent institution, but it is the institution of the independents: through it’s purpose (supporting independent cultural and youth scene), the way it is managed (civil-public co-management) and its context (direct result of initiative taken by the independents).

Mission

To establish an open local center for development of independent contemporary arts and culture as well as for the active involvement of young people in cultural and social life.

Goals

1. To provide space and adequate conditions for the production and presentation of contemporary cultural and artistic programs of Zagreb’s independent cultural scene, as well as for programs of civil society organizations that promote the active involvement of young people in cultural and social life.
2. To promote Zagreb’s independent cultural and youth scene, their programs and activities that take place in Pogon.
3. To contribute to strengthening the capacities of Zagreb civil society organizations that operate in the field of contemporary arts and culture and of youth self-organization.
4. To support the advocacy campaigns of cultural and youth civil society organizations at local, national and EUropean level.
5. To encourage the participation of independent cultural organizations and artists in international cultural cooperation.

Program

Pogon’s operation is not defined in terms of aesthetic criteria or strong programmatic / curatorial concept. Rather, it is determined by the realm of policy, being one of the instruments that bridges the big gap between the traditional public sector and the independent scene. Therefore, Pogon’s core activity is providing free of charge venues to independent organizations and artists working in all the different fields of contemporary art and culture, as well as to organizations working in youth activities. At the same time, Pogon develops its own activities, currently focusing on international artists-in-residence program and European project Corners.

International

Pogon is member of international organizations: Culture Action Europe, where Pogon’s director serves as vice-president of the Executive Committee, and of IETM.

 
 

Pogon supports the Europe-wide campaign

 
 

Financing

Pogon is financed through an operational grant from the City of Zagreb’s Office for Education, Culture and Sports as part of the City’s Youth Program. This includes staff costs, maintenance, support programs and the costs of the program operation. Part of these costs is covered through self-financing.

Additional funds for the realization of particular programs and projects are provided by the Ministry of Culture and the City of Zagreb.

Project Corners is co-financed by the Culture Programme of the European Union.

Programs in Pogon’s venues are financed by the members of Alliance Operation City and other users.